I like makeing up long freights and passenger trains and setting them out on the mainline for a while (with an ocassional stop depending on what kind of consist). Then having them come back into yard where the switchers dis-assemble the trains and make new ones.
I voted mainline action becasue that is what I would pick if I had to choose. But I prefer a balance of both in my model railroading actually.
Mainline action on my layout means about seven feet of scooting back and forth, so I had better like switching! I like switching in prototype railroading too–I don’t mind sitting there watching the trains go back and forth but I really get a kick out of watching cars being shuffled back and forth, in yards or especially industries. My track plans tend to include a lot of industries, partially because my favorite part of the hobby is building structures, but partially because I like having lots of places to spot my cars!
I answered mainline because I like to run trains.
And at the same time , I can switch my other tracks’ industry
sidings. So, as my passengers get where they are going,
my industries are making a profit as well.
Mainline all the way. I love having trains meet on my double main in the pass, and having to wait for a priority intermodel to pass me while sitting on a passing siding on the single main where the track is straight and its up to speed for a 40 car double stack train to make up for lost time. This is by far the best hobby in the world, don’t cha’ think.
Its November and its National Model Railroad Month.
Ross Waters
Spokane, WA
Although my layout is not yet complete I voted switching because I am more a freight kinda guy and look forward to picking up and dropping off freight to the local businesses. My passenger train will be able to get to the inside track to use the return loops for changing direction but will run mostly without switching in the opposing direction of the freight to add movement and action to the layout.
I prefer running the yard when i operate. I like to make up and break down trains and try to anticipate how a turn will switch its cars when I preblock the train. Sometimes I even get it right!
Dave Nelson
I have to say I agree with you switchers, too. It is a lot of fun switching cars in the yard and or delivering them to small industries.
In the real world, the mainline action is most compelling, esp. double main. We were in a small town west of Mendota, IL one evening, Amtrak came barreling through at 55-70 mph as we stood next to the tracks, she let out a yell, “Holy ***!” with a big smile on her face, much different than the trains slowing for crossings, switches or towns or doing switching. I want my layout to have enough sidings, business, that I can run a peddler, pick up/drop off cars, or have it on a siding while mainline runs by.
A train at speed is heart thrilling from behind the crossing gate or trackside that close, the wind, ground shaking, engine noise, potential danger, thought that should it derail, you’d be toast!
I’m more of a highway man in the car too, 75mph beats stop and go! I’d rather run an hour or drive 300+ miles straight through than stop.
I am modeling switching because I can make scenerios using different cars to be switched and the different movements needed. I plan on letting neighbors and their children run it and hope they might want model railroads of their own. Atlas tells me it takes an hour to do all the switching and that is just about right for a kid.
Jock Ellis
I like both. Over half my loco fleet (over twenty units) are first generation Alco and GM switchers, so I’m heavily biased toward switchers. I run idiot loops on my home layout , and the switchers look good going around the 18 inch radius curves. I can run pairs of SD40s too, and they occasionally see action on my very small 3 1/2 by 6 foot layout. I have 42 locos, and 36 of them are intended for analog operation on my home layout. As a matter of fact, pretty much all I can do is mainline running on my home layout. I have only one siding, and every now and then I’ll spot box cars at the grain elevator.
As for switching, I have six Life-Like GM and Alco switchers equipped for DCC operation on the model railroad club layout. The club layout is set up in a shopping mall, and when I come to run trains I always take the yard job. There are too many guys wanting to run idiot loops on the main line, so I’m content to shuffle cars back and forth in the yard.
So I live in the best of both worlds - mainline running on my home layout and switching on the club layout.
I did not vote, as my layout is setup as a single track secondary main line with staging. There are 3 ‘main line’ towns and a branch line - 21 industries are on the layout, and some of them have multiple tracks/spots like my Swift Packing(reefer dock/cattle pens/ice dock). This generates about 18 cars/ day of local traffic - the rest are ‘through’ trains. So it is sort of hard for me to split the difference.
From my experience on a club layout and my own, the ‘operator’ types usually have 3 types of jobs:
o - Through trains with little if any switching
o - Locals(what most of the folks like) - way freight switching.
o - Yard Switching(can be very tedious switching out freights all night). These jobs are usually the last job maked up for at the club on operating nights.
At clubs, many times you cannot get some folks into ‘operating sessions’. That is why at my old club we had a night where one could just ‘BS’ or run trains. We had two 25 car ‘pull’ trains. They were not on the car card system, and could be used to ‘work’ your new engines. One set had 50’s style cars, other had ‘modern’ type cars. On those nights it was not uncommon to see 5 trains/engines following each other around the layout(7 scale miles around…).
Operating nights were on Sunday(after football) and usually we had 10-12 folks running the railroad. It has been 20 years since I moved and have been involved in a modular club, but I have been tied up with my own railroad. Most operating/switching is done by myself or with 1 or 2 others. That said, most of the running has not been operational - I just run a train out of staging or a a yard track and put it back after a couple of hours. I like to have something running when I am modeling at the work bench!
Jim Bernier
Jonathon,
you missed the option of “Combination”, many layouts are set up for both. you do have your hardline “let’s run things full speed on an oval” types and your “I only run point to point” type, but the vast majority of modelers run a combination layout. that’s to say they can run a train in a continious ciruit, while at the same time they could do switching, if they prefered. Those of use with DCC can do both at the same time, makes for a very real operating session.
Yes, needs an “all of the above” choice.
Wayne
I also went with mainline however I do the local switching at times as time permits. Most of the time I am letting my grand daughter run them. She is one of those with a need for speed. I can’t seem to get her to run them at what would be the normal speeds, but its okay she is only 4.
I like both but I tend to be more interested in mainline for the simple pleasure of running.
Guys,For me I get tired of watching a train run endless loops…So I favor switching above main line action.Now,the main line operation I enjoy the most is at the club due to the fact the layout is point to point single track with passing sidings.However,true to my love for switching I am the happiest working one of the yards or passenger terminals where I need to break down and make up trains.[:D][tup] I also enjoy running a local freight…[:D]
Both.
I really get a kick out of watching a long freight winding through the mountains or a passenger screaming through the lowlands.
I like switching and solving the puzzle of cutting cars and spotting them to build a consist.
Both! Trains come from somehere, drop blocks to be switched, or do a little road switching, pick up blocks, and go on their way down the main. What’s not to like? Even the varnish sometimes changes head end cars or splits a la Spokane where the trains cut off cars for Portland and the rest go to Seattle.
Industry switching. Being from KS and in the nations wheat belt, a couple grain elevators and a large flour mill dominate my layout. I model in the 1970s, so 40 ft boxcars can also be used for grain shipments. I model the Wichita Terminal Assocation which was owned by the city rrs. The company would take turns using engs from its owners. I rotate engs of the SF,MP and RI. My flr mill is the old Wichita Flour mills that was built in 1914. I have two loadout and one unloading trk. I use 40 & 50 ft boxcars for sacked flr, airslide hops for bulk flr and grain hoppers for bulk feed. Right now business at the mill is ‘slow’ I am not spotting any boxcars as there are no export flour contracts right now. Run time is only 5 days a wk, so the mill is not being switched wknds. This though will change next wk as a large export order is going to get started, the mill will be back at 7 days a wk, they will need an endless supply of boxcars and I have to send a switch engine up there twice a day everyday! it going to get real busy on the WTA!